Anyone Concerned about Swindle at LT

[Boz]

Does he have the lateral quickness to play LT? Athletic enough? Has always been a RT. We are pretty thin at the tackle position especially LT- backup is a true freshman that was recruited as a guard. The tackles are my biggest concerns going into the season.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

So happy it is the first day of practice!

 

[UKani]

Only thing I'm worried about with Swindle is false starts.... I don't worry about him being able to do the job or not... At right tackle he was pretty good, its just that he had trouble with false starts. I think he'll do as good a job or a better job than Darrien Miller at LT than Darrien Miller did last year.

 

[2blue4u]

 

[Brock28]

More than concerned, I'm down right terrified. I've got a feeling the speed rushers will eat him alive. Sure hope I'm wrong!

 

[RV2]

I think he'll do fine. I also think Meadows would go over to LT if Swindle were to miss a start.

 

[cawood12]

Does he have the lateral quickness to play LT? Athletic enough? Has always been a RT. We are pretty thin at the tackle position especially LT- backup is a true freshman that was recruited as a guard. The tackles are my biggest concerns going into the season.

No

 

[K_TIME]

We were really poor at pass protecting on the edge rushers...Swindle has a big task in front of him for sure.

 

[TrollCat]

Swindle couldn't pass protect last season at right tackle. He was simply abused once we got into conference play and UL. False starts weren't the issue, either. Lack of lateral foot speed was. Why will it be better this year on the left side against more athletic defensive ends?

 

[Deeeefense]

The question is incomplete. Are you concerned about Swindell at LT against. . . . . . who?

If he's going up against a guy like Derek Barnett he's probably going to need some help on occasion, but I think he'll hold up fine against most of teams we play this year.

 

[Anjiejo]

If I remember correctly, Haynes played LT against Florida!!!

 

[FtWorthCat]

Does he have the lateral quickness to play LT? Athletic enough? Has always been a RT. We are pretty thin at the tackle position especially LT- backup is a true freshman that was recruited as a guard. The tackles are my biggest concerns going into the season.

Hell no I'm not concerned, that guy is a natural born killer. He just needs to work on his premature evacuation (from his stance) problems.

 

[Bigblueforever]

More than concerned, I'm down right terrified. I've got a feeling the speed rushers will eat him alive. Sure hope I'm wrong!

I hope you are wrong to.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Swindle couldn't pass protect last season at right tackle. He was simply abused once we got into conference play and UL. False starts weren't the issue, either. Lack of lateral foot speed was. Why will it be better this year on the left side against more athletic defensive ends?

I have no idea how true that is, but if it is he will have a tough time against a 3-4 defense, those outside speed rushers are getting awfully fast and strong.

 

[jauk11]

Hell no I'm not concerned, that guy is a natural born killer. He just needs to work on his premature evacuation (from his stance) problems.

Mostly just rumors but I have read that premature evacuations have been a problem for centuries.

I think the OL will be much better this year a lot more talent and experience.

 

[homerblue]

Here we go...time to start eating our young again. Ought to be ashamed to doubt any of our boys. When you believe you can do a better job than a player, let us know. Until then, keep yoir critique to yourself.

 

[C1180]

Swindle is a decent not great OT. I like that he has a mean streak and gives it his all most of the time. If he can clear up some of the false starts. I think he will be OK at LT Maybe not all SEC but OK. I am actually more worried about the RT position.

 

[FtWorthCat]

Swindle is a decent not great OT. I like that he has a mean streak and gives it his all most of the time. If he can clear up some of the false starts. I think he will be OK at LT Maybe not all SEC but OK. I am actually more worried about the RT position.

Bottom line. We can win some games with Swindle in the lineup. He's been a warrior, it's his last year. I'll go to war (as Cawood used to say) with him.

 

[zcats]

Aside from his false starts I think he is a pretty good tackle. I think he will do fine. OT's are easy targets for the fans like CB's are on defense.

 

[jimlowe7]

Strong Swindle PLUS quick TE beside him PLUS quick offense means no worries (TE can block OR catch quick pass over the middle so the pressure will be on the DE instead of our guys IMHO.

 

[Vonburns1]

I'm hoping that his hearing is better in his right ear than it was last season in his left ear.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Thank goodness for this leader on our line. And, his willingness to work on his weaknesses is a great example for his teammates.

 

[Oldtrainer]

O. tackles most plays are out there alone. Very noticeable screw-ups and Jason had his share last season. Looked Improved in Spring, second game on the road in Columbia will show positive progress-I hope! Got experience, size, smarts, and toughness going for him!

 

[C1180]

NO OT is going to be able to handle all of the great rush DEs in the SEC all of the time. Miller was a decent LT and he was beaten badly on occasions last year. If Swindle fails at LT it will not be from lack of effort because the kid gives great effort on every play. IMO his false starts were because he is just over anxious to get his job done. I am sure the coaching staff is working real hard on that problem.

Good pass protection OTs are the most difficult positions to recruit for the OL because there is just not enough of them to go around for all of the teams that need them. The combination of good feet and quickness is fairly rare in players of the size and strength needed to play the positions. The fact that the rush ends are usually among the best athletes on the opposing defense adds to the difficulty of finding players to play the positions.

 

[SaguaroCat]

Our opinion of Swindle may be based more on Dawson than him. Neal Brown didn't do the line any favors with additional blocking help form the backfield. He let Missouri manhandle us and refused to adapt. I don't know if Dawson's strategy is any different or not.

 

[C1180]

Our opinion of Swindle may be based more on Dawson than him. Neal Brown didn't do the line any favors with additional blocking help form the backfield. He let Missouri manhandle us and refused to adapt. I don't know if Dawson's strategy is any different or not.

I wouldn't lay too much of the blame on Neil Brown. He had very young RBs, WRs and his tight ends were not of SEC quality. These young backs and WRs probably were not asked to do a lot of blocking in high school because they were likely the stars of their teams and were counted on to make the plays with the ball not block. The RBs and WRs must block if the Air Raid is to work properly.

 

[BigTyrone]

Swindle couldn't pass protect last season at right tackle. He was simply abused once we got into conference play and UL. False starts weren't the issue, either. Lack of lateral foot speed was. Why will it be better this year on the left side against more athletic defensive ends?

The UL breakdowns were almost entirely the fault of the tight ends missing their assignment.

I think he's solid other than the false starts. Not a monster like I would prefer to have there, but I'm ok with our tackle rotation, particularly with big George added to the mix.

 

[vhcat70]

Sure. But what is anyone to do about it? You think you know better who ought to be starting there? Let us know who & why.

 

[vikingfer]

I had the same problem but learned to control myself

 

[Blue Decade]

Swindle couldn't pass protect last season at right tackle. He was simply abused once we got into conference play and UL. False starts weren't the issue, either. Lack of lateral foot speed was. Why will it be better this year on the left side against more athletic defensive ends?

Your description of last year is mostly true. But it isn't as simple as just foot speed. All offensive tackles are slower in terms of foot speed than the best edge rushers. Good tackles make up for this with good footwork and technique. Swindle didn't get his redshirt as a freshman, and may still be learning. He is a year farther along now. That may help his footwork. He has bigger, better tight ends playing with him who can help with blocking, and that may make a difference too. I believe the offensive tackles are 1 of the major question marks for our 2015 team, but I am not ready to predict failure. Like all other players, our tackles are expected to improve with teaching and experience. This year is a test for Swindle, and also for Coach Schlarman.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Dawson loves Swindle.